More Christians are under threat than any other faith group, some two hundred million, according to a recent book published by journalist Rupert Shortt.
Shortt, the religious editor of the Times Literary Supplement and author of several books on religious topics, recently published his latest book, “Cristianophobia,” (Random House).
Well before the September 11 attacks, many Christian communities were faced with severe problems of intolerance, he noted in the book’s introduction, and in the last decade the problem has worsened dramatically.
Don’t over look the soft persecution of Christians in the west, under such terms as tolerance and anti-discrimination. Indeed as western governments become more hostile to Christians what is the incentive for Christians to support or participate in such governments? And I include the United States which grows evermore hostile to Christianity.
Christianity has been at odds with governments from the very beginning and perhaps that is as it should be. We don’t have a great track record of acting as our beliefs dictate we should when we’re cozy with the government.